Store Manager - Selfridges London (Maternity Cover)

A career in Maison Valentino is your chance to grow in a reality where business and creativity meet and thrive in an inclusive, and open-minded community. Maison Valentino believes in a colleague-centric approach, where our contribution and behaviors as individuals are the secret of our success as a community. Each Valentino colleague is crucial to guarantee that every need in Valentino is met with mastery, creativity, uniqueness, and care.

JOB MISSION

As the Store Manager, you will act as the key brand representative, embodying the values of Valentino and ensuring an exceptional client experience from preparation to retention. You will lead the store team to achieve sales targets and operational excellence while fostering strong collaboration with headquarters functions.

SALES & KPIs

• Drive the store's overall sales performance by setting team sales targets and strategies aiming to increase the store productivity.

• Ensure the store team has a clear understanding of the correlation between every step of the client experience and associated KPIs. Analyze KPI data to identify trends and opportunities, creating action plans to enhance performance.

CLIENTELING

• Client Engagement: Implement strategies to develop and retain existing clients while recruiting new and potential ones. Create and implement bespoke engagement strategies tailored to different client segments, ensuring personalized and exceptional client experiences across all touchpoints.

• Client Data Acquisition: Oversee the collection and management of client data, ensuring the database is enriched and up to date.

PRODUCT (care & knowledge)

• Product Expertise: Possess an in-depth knowledge of Valentino products and ensure the store team is equally knowledgeable. Develop training programs to enhance the team's product knowledge and storytelling abilities, ensuring a consistent and engaging client experience.

• Responsibility for maintaining the display in line with the guidelines and constantly sharing input and commercial needs with the VM teams for effective fine-tuning of the display.

OPERATIONS

• Operational Excellence: Ensure the store operates in full compliance with all operational guidelines, including after-sales assistance, product transfers, consignment processes, and more. Oversee the execution of key operational and administrative tasks such as cycle counts, stock takes, product receiving, and documentation management.

• Systems Proficiency: Leverage company tools and systems (Smart XP, MY-V XP, PRISM, SAP, Training App, After Sales App, etc.) to streamline store activities. Train and support the store team in the effective use of these tools to enhance efficiency and productivity.

TEAM LEADERSHIP

• Team Management: Lead, motivate, and develop the store team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment. Provide regular feedback and coaching to ensure continuous improvement and professional growth.

• Collaboration: Work closely with the in-store team and Visual Merchandising (VM) team to ensure adherence to display guidelines. Act as a liaison with the In-Store Visual team to maintain high visual standards and align with brand aesthetics.

COLLABORATION WITH HEADQUARTER FUNCTIONS

• Communication: Serve as the primary point of contact between the store and headquarters, ensuring clear and consistent communication. Report on store performance, client feedback, and market trends to inform headquarters' strategies and initiatives.

• Strategy Implementation: Collaborate with headquarters functions such as merchandizing, operations, CRM and client engagement to implement corporate strategies and initiatives at the store level. Ensure alignment with brand objectives and provide feedback to optimize these strategies.

• Training and Development: Partner with headquarters' training and HR departments to develop and implement training programs for the store team. Ensure the team is equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver exceptional client service and achieve sales targets.

• Inventory Management: Work with the merchandising and supply chain teams at headquarters to manage inventory levels, ensuring optimal stock availability and turnover. Provide feedback on product performance and client preferences to inform future buying decisions.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Leadership: Develops and implements long-term strategies to align store performance with organizational goals, driving sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

• Business Growth and Development: Identifies and capitalizes on market opportunities to expand the client base, enhance sales performance, and achieve revenue targets.

• Team Leadership and Talent Development: Inspires, mentors, and empowers the team, fostering a high-performance culture and ensuring continuous professional growth and alignment with the brand’s values.

• Stakeholder Collaboration: Builds and nurtures productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring seamless communication and execution of strategic initiatives.

• Inventory and Operational Excellence: Oversees inventory management and operational processes to optimize stock levels, minimize discrepancies, and maintain a streamlined workflow that supports sales objectives.

The Valentino ecosystem is home to a wide and extraordinary pool of talents, each colleague contributing with their unique attributes, nurturing a culture of inclusivity and equality. Inspiring sense of belonging, passion and engaging colleagues are the bases of our inclusive and multifaceted world.